News 17:00

BULLETIN 22 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The drug kingpin Fadwaan Murphy is sentenced to 18 years in prison
# The IEC confirms that Umkhonto weSizwe’s participation in the elections depends on a court ruling
# And tennis: The Australian Open quarterfinals are shaping up

# The High Court in the Western Cape has sentenced drug kingpin Fadwaan Murphy to 18 years in prison and fined him two-million-rand for drug dealing and money laundering. His ex-wife, Shafieka Murphy, received a 15-year sentence. The court ordered the recovery of the fine and associated costs from their company, Ulterior Trading Solutions. Convicted on multiple counts, the couple’s illicit activities were deemed destructive to communities. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila says the accused are appealing, and the case is set for further argument on Monday:

# The Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed the registration of Umkhonto weSizwe to participate in this year’s general elections. However, IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya told Newzroom Afrika two court matters are yet to be ruled on, which will decide the party’s eligibility to contest. He says despite the pending legal challenges, the party expresses confidence and remains undeterred in its commitment to participate in the elections:

# Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s grandchildren are embroiled in a dispute over her estate. They accuse their aunt, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, of concealing assets, including the Soweto home, vehicles and sentimental artefacts. The estate’s co-executor, Zondwa Mandela, has filed for an interdict, alleging a lack of involvement and asset removal without consent. He claims a lack of progress in settling Madikizela-Mandela’s estate five years after her death. Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and lawyers plan to oppose Zondwa Mandela’s court application, adding to the family’s history of disputes.

# The Foreign Policy chief of the European Union, Josep Borrell, insists on a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. He says Israel’s plan to destroy the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza is not working. Ahead of talks with Israeli and Palestinian top diplomats, Borrell said Israel cannot build peace by military means only. The EU’s 27 Foreign ministers are holding separate meetings with their counterparts from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and key Arab states in Brussels, Belgium, as the violence in the Gaza Strip continues.

# Tennis: There were fourth-round victories for Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, Russian Daniil Medvedev, German Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the Australian Open. Second-seeded Alcaraz easily got the better of Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, while Medvedev needed four sets to beat Nuno Borges of Portugal. Britain’s Cameron Norrie took Zverev to five sets before the German could clinch the tiebreaker, and Hurkacz beat promising young Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Early tomorrow, ten-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia will play American Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.

Stay tuned for more news………….